Initiatives in favor of employees who have painful periods are increasing among private and public employers.
Sarah Lemoine: Allowing women to take time off from work in the event of painful periods, without loss of pay, the Saint-Ouen town hall was the first to take the initiative last March. Since then, there has been the town of Bagnolet and the metropolis of Lyon, in particular. And the list will grow in the months to come, with Nouvelle-Aquitaine, the department of Gironde, the metropolis of Strasbourg. The Paris town hall is also in the running.
What does this menstrual leave consist of?
There are lots of different formulas. In general, one day of absence is authorized per month, sometimes two. Without loss of salary, therefore, and without notice. In the vast majority of cases, a medical certificate is required. Once a year or every six months. But this may be a sworn declaration.
Some employers only target certain pathologies, endometriosis for example. This is the case of Carrefour, which also requires a disabled worker certificate. Others have a less restrictive reading of the concept of painful periods.
VS‘is the end of a taboo?
In the world of work, women rarely talk about their “ragnagnas”. Even less so those who have painful and incapacitating periods, sometimes forced to come to the office, or serve in a canteen, on the verge of fainting.
They of course have the possibility of being prescribed sick leave, but this often results in a loss of salary, due to the waiting days applied by Health Insurance. Menstrual leave, immediately compensated, therefore solves a large part of the problem.
However, this menstrual leave is debated?
Even in the feminist ranks. Because it raises the question of medical confidentiality and the risk of discrimination against women in their career development.
The recent bill from Europe Écologie Les Verts offers another solution. A work stoppage without a waiting day. The beneficiary automatically activates it on the Ameli platform. Up to 13 times a year, provided you have a medical certificate from a doctor, gynecologist or midwife. The government, which is also working on the subject, is also looking for other solutions.